ASCA Group for Children
ASCA (Accumulating Saving and Credit Association) is one of the programs of Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) Program Area Tojo Una-Una (Touna). The program has been built to improve household economic management capacity through a simple community-based savings and loan system. The program has been running since 2014. Now, about 13 adult ASCA groups with up to 259 members have registered in the program.
A large amount of assets attracts many people to get involved in the ASCA program. The situation also attracts children's attention. They want to be involved in the ASCA program.
The children saw how their parents got money at the end of the cycle, and they have been involved in ASCA meetings to replace the parents' absence. This situation triggers children to ask their parents to make an ASCA group for them.
According to that, the parents and cadres came to WVI to suggest the ASCA for the children group. Then, after collecting data on the number of children who were ready to join, ASCA Children of Urundaka was established on October 15, 2020. The ASCA children group was assisted by WVI staff and ASCA Ampana Tete Ambassador, Mrs. Lisnawati from the Kajulangko area.
“It starts when I often replaced my grandmother's presence in ASCA. She got a lot of money from ASCA. Then, I asked to be joined in the ASCA group for children, so I can do the saving and could get more money for education. She supports me and will give me money to be saved,” said Rodatul, member of ASCA for children.
Sabra, a parent who is also a member of ASCA for adults, welcomed the initiative.
"I am happy that the children have savings in ASCA. They usually saved in a piggy bank, but sometimes they break it down and use the money without parental permission. In ASKA, children discipline, and parents can supervise. Also, the results can be seen at the end of the cycle,” said Sabra.
Lisnawati, ASCA Ambassadors of Ampana Tete was interested in doing the same thing in her village. The initiative was then welcomed by the children's parents in Kajulangko Village. On October 24, 2020, the second group of ASCA for children was established in Ampana Tete District in Kajulangko.
About 15 boys and 29 girls have joined the ASCA group for children. Each child can be saving IDR 10,000 per share with social funds of IDR 2,000 per meeting and a fine of IDR 1,000. Children who are involved in ASCA are not allowed to borrow. They could only do the saving. Every ASCA for children's activity is still accompanied by WVI cadres and staff.
Written by: Sudarman Saroinsong, Staff of Touna Program Area, Wahana Visi Indonesia
